(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty said his campaign needs to "start showing progress" in national and state-wide polls, something he's confident will happen once voters become familiar with his record.

"When my record of results gets out in Minnesota we're going to do better and you'll see that in the poll numbers," the former Minnesota governor said Friday on CNN's "American Morning."

Pawlenty, who has traveled extensively to early primary and caucus states, has failed to reach double digit support when pitted against other GOP White House hopefuls.

When specifically asked about a Quinnipiac University national poll released Wednesday, which showed Pawlenty with 3 percent support, he said "the polls bounce around a little bit," but that he's the only candidate in the race who has tackled issues now in the national spotlight.

"One of the strengths I bring to it, I just don't talk about these things, I did them," Pawlenty said.

soundoff(22 Responses)

Record or no record, it's not wise for him to slam Bachmann. He forgot Reagans' rule of civility toward fellow Republicans.

July 15, 2011 08:24 am at 8:24 am |

Joe from CT, not Lieberman

Not bad. 3% support in the polls with a 4% Margin of Error. So he could be as low as -1%!

July 15, 2011 08:25 am at 8:25 am |

The Elephant in The Room

Tim –

Your record is out there and the results are not good. You believed in global warming and support Cap & Trade. what self respecting conservative does that? You played shell games with the state of Minnesota's rainy day funds to appear to balance the budget. You took Federal Stimulus money to shore up your budget. Now the state has a $6B deficit that has shut it down for 2 weeks. Your fingerprints are all over this and this is what you want America to believe is good performance?

Man, are you delusional?? The Courage to Stand ?? Really ??

July 15, 2011 08:25 am at 8:25 am |

Louisiana Man

Typically of the GOP-
NEVER let facts get in the way of an ego. Do all of the GOP drones live in a mythical, unicorn environment?

July 15, 2011 08:27 am at 8:27 am |

Greg

Tim, Your record is out – failed insfratructure, fake balanced budget, decreased quality of life, and anything but a statesman we can put our trust behind. You failed my home state of Minnesota and you would fail with your hyperbole on the national level

July 15, 2011 08:37 am at 8:37 am |

Scott

Are you kidding? You better pray your record doesn't become more widely known.

July 15, 2011 08:38 am at 8:38 am |

Marie MD

Poor delusional guy. Your record? Are you talking aboutnthe bridge that collapsed under your watch and killed 13 of your citizens? Or are you talking about leaving MN is such debt that they had to shut the government down?
Yes, that is what we all aspire our record and legacy to be . . . Death, destruction and complete financial chaos!!

July 15, 2011 08:48 am at 8:48 am |

T'sah from Virginia

Pawlenty: Unfazed by low polls
And he really feels he's in control
He sees himself in the Situation Room
He does not know what it means to ASSume!

PoorLENTY – come on now – you need to be orient
And face the FACTS – at least for 2012 – you’ll NOT be our President!!

July 15, 2011 08:48 am at 8:48 am |

Rudy NYC

Governer, most Americans are not fazed by your polling numbers, either.

July 15, 2011 08:51 am at 8:51 am |

LovesIrony

You're record in MN is out. That is why your poll numbers are so low

July 15, 2011 08:59 am at 8:59 am |

John

What do you expect from a ex-GOV that left Minnesota In Billions of dollars In dept and bridges fallen down. Just how many Idiot do you think want this man running this Country. It all ready not doing to good. So why does he think anybody want him to run this country and make It worst.

July 15, 2011 09:05 am at 9:05 am |

ConservaFASCISTS/Domestic Terrorists/Taliban/Al Queda/TRAITORS

"When my record of results gets out in Minnesota we're going to do better and you'll see that in the poll numbers,"
-------------------------------------------------–
We are currently witnessing what your "record of results" is doing to the struggling economy in Minnesota right now!!! Shut your piehole.

July 15, 2011 09:12 am at 9:12 am |

GI Joe

Typical "me me me me me me me" sociopathic behavior.

Some of the GOP candidates want power for themselves and the party, not to help this country improve. Look at Cantor, Boehner, McConnell. Do we REALLY need that selfish personality type in the White House?

July 15, 2011 09:17 am at 9:17 am |

Lynda/Minnesota

"When my record of results gets out in Minnesota we're going to do better and you'll see that in the poll numbers,"

Not the brightest bulb that ever ran for president, is he? He's been running from *his record* here in Minnesota for the past 3 years now, and with good reason. His *results* driven record forced the longest government budget shutdown in Minnesota history. One can only hope Pawlenty never gets a chance to repeat these *results* of his nationally.

July 15, 2011 09:22 am at 9:22 am |

a Minnesotan

Of course he is unfazed. He is positioning himself to be picked VIP should Romney win the nomination. Pawlenty knows that his best shot at ever becoming president is to be VP first.

July 15, 2011 09:27 am at 9:27 am |

diridi

Did he ever get Time magazine, I was cruising my magazine, it was showing him as last idiot of GOP thugs....o.k, in poll....o.k, Even those wild card dudes like Rudy, Perry, Sarah, etc, all junk is also last, but he was the last, then the newt the toad....idiots., it is Fish Time magazine....o.k, see this stuff....Obama2012.....

July 15, 2011 09:30 am at 9:30 am |

SecedingfromTexas

"...he forgot Reagans rule of civility toward Republicans"
***************************
Reagan raised taxes four times.
How about a rule to be civil to all Americans?

July 15, 2011 09:41 am at 9:41 am |

Sniffit

"Pawlenty: Unfazed by low polls"

Makes sense. Polls are part of the grand picture painted by reality, and he's having none of it.

July 15, 2011 09:44 am at 9:44 am |

Indy

Tim Pawlenty- Not fazed by reality, it is the Republican way too not get fazed by reality.

July 15, 2011 09:49 am at 9:49 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

He's not fazed by his non-existent polls,and we're not fazed by him......what else is there to discuss?
Next.

July 15, 2011 09:54 am at 9:54 am |

once upon a horse

@ Ancient Texan

heck they might as well go after each other because them bashing Obama without offering any kind of solutions on their own has gotten old. T-Paw's numbers are down there with "pretty Ricky's" who also isn't going to make it. These guys need to put what little money they are drawing back into the economy because we need it more than they do.